A hybrid controller unit includes a detection module, a gear-hold module, a gear-skip module, and an optimizing module. The detection module is structured to detect a deceleration event. The gear-hold module is structured to determine whether a certain gear of a transmission should be maintained for a certain period of time in order to optimize power regeneration during the deceleration event. The gear-hold module is also structured to generate a gear-hold request. The gear-skip module is structured to determine whether the transmission should skip a gear in order to optimize power regeneration during the deceleration event. The gear-skip module is also structured to generate a gear-skip request. The optimizing module is structured to receive the gear-hold request and the gear-skip request and generate a transmission command to be sent to a transmission control unit for actuation.

A hybrid vehicle having an engine, an electric machine, and a step-ratio transmission includes a controller programmed to, in response to an accelerator lift-pedal event when operating in a towing mode, learn a vehicle speed, and apply a lift-pedal torque when vehicle speed exceeds the learned vehicle speed, and apply an adjusted lift-pedal torque based on a gear ratio after downshifting the transmission to maintain a constant output shaft torque otherwise.

A control process including the following steps is executed. The control process includes, at the time of switching from series-parallel mode to series mode, a step of reducing an engine torque, a step of releasing a clutch, a step of reducing a reaction torque of a first rotary electric machine and a step of increasing a torque of a second rotary electric machine, and, when synchronization is started and a step of increasing a positive torque of the first MG, a step of starting engagement of a clutch, and, when a rotation speed of the first rotary electric machine and a rotation speed of an engine are synchronous with each other, a step of engaging the clutch.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine, a gearbox, a range gearbox, and two electrical machines to achieve a shift operation from a low range position to a high range position with minimal to no torque interruption and optimal brake regeneration, on the one hand, and a large torque and a lame number of gear steps are achieved on the other hand.

A device for controlling an engine clutch in an environmentally-friendly vehicle, wherein the engine clutch is disposed between an engine and a driving motor and is configured to selectively connect the engine to the driving motor, includes: a transmission configured to receive a driving force that is transmitted from at least one of the engine and the driving motor by release or engagement of the engine clutch; and a controller configured to control the engine clutch based on a gear of the transmission when the failure of the engine clutch is detected and configured to charge a battery using the engine.

A method is provided to start a hybrid powertrain to optimize fuel consumption, wherein such hybrid powertrain comprises a combustion engine; a gearbox with input shaft and output shaft; a first planetary gear, connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear, connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines respectively, connected to the first and second planetary gears; one gear pair connected with the first main shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second main shaft. The method comprising: ensuring that the moveable parts of each of the first and second planetary gears are respectively disconnected from each other; bringing the combustion engine to a predetermined engine speed (n.sub.ice); and controlling the first and the second electrical machine in such a way that a desired torque (T.sub.Drv) is achieved in the output shaft.

A system and a method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle shift are disclosed. The system includes an engine and a drive motor operating as power sources and a transmission receiving driving torque from one of the engine and the drive motor. A data detector detects a state data for operating the transmission. A vehicle controller calculates a creep torque and an engine setting torque using the state data, determines whether a shift control condition is satisfied based on a position value of an accelerator pedal, calculates an available motor torque using a motor speed at an actual shift start point and a target motor speed when the shift control condition is satisfied, and calculates a first shift input torque using the creep torque, the engine setting torque, the available motor torque, and a first torque apply ratio. The transmission is operated based on the first shift input torque.

An Electric Tag Axle has a differential connected to two axle shafts. A two speed gearbox is connected to the differential by way of a ring and pinion gear. A longitudinally arranged electric motor/generator is connected to the two speed gearbox. A single wheel disconnect mechanism within the axle allows for neutral operation by allowing the differential to freewheel. A vehicle energy management system is connected to the Electric Tag Axle and to a traction battery pack, and is configured to operate the Electric Tag Axle in a low range motoring mode, a high range motoring mode, a regenerative braking mode, and in the neutral mode. This allows the Electric Tag Axle are able to efficiently make use of a limited amount of stored electrical energy during vehicle takeoff, while efficiently supplementing propulsion power during motoring at cruise speeds, and while efficiently recapturing kinetic energy during regenerative braking.

System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle may include an EV driving mode, where the motor alone powers the hybrid vehicle. However, use of such a driving mode may be limited to conditions involving low drive force and power requests due to motor and battery power specifications. In some circumstances, the conditions during which the motor can be used to power the hybrid vehicle can be expanded. Such conditions may include instances where the driver only seeks light accelerations for a short period of time. Such an expanded EV mode may be triggered when the hybrid vehicle is travelling a downhill grade.

A hybrid electric power-split vehicle, equipped with a continuously variable transmission coupling an electric motor/generator (EM) with a combustion engine (CE), includes systems and methods that reduce possible resonant noise and vibration during CE startup, by improved EM control, to generate compensating EM torque to counter act such possible resonant noise and vibration. The systems and methods include predetermined baseline CE operating condition (OC) cranking torque profiles stored as OC grids (SOCGs). A start profile is generated from selected cranking torque SOCGs, and also from selected historical start OCGs (HOCGs) of prior engine and/or CE starts, which include prior start noise and vibration metrics along with prior start OCs and related parameters. The start profile is calibrated using a blend factor that is generated from comparisons of SOCGs, and utilized to generate a feed-forward torque signal that adjusts EM torque to reduce the startup noise and vibration resonances.